Stringed musical instrument



Oct. 18, 1932. P. E. BLONDIN STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1931 ZSheets-Sheet l rA/VFNTOII' j ETER E. BLONDrN Oct. 18, 1932. P. E. BLONDIN STRINGED MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Zk/vs/vro/r PETER E. BLOND) N f7 Tree/vex Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES FATENT GFF I'CE.

PETER. E. BLONDIIR OF NORTH TONJAWANDA, NEW YORK STRINGED MUSICAIS INSTRUMENT Applibatibm filed August 19, 1931.. Serial. No 5583003.

. qualitieszthat onliy gut strings need be used to get all the resonance desired.

The above objects and advantages have been amomplishedi by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig; 1 is: a front elevation. of my complete device.

Fig. 2 is. a back View thereof.

Fig- 3is a sectional plan view,taken on line 33 of. Fig; y

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on. line 4-4 of Fig; 1.

Fig 5 is a sectional vi 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken on line 6.6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is. an enlarged, sectional View, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

My devicecomprises in general a sound box 10 like that of a harp, a: string-carrying member 11, like that of a guitar; and resonator irons'12 and 13- with metal rods, to be hereinafter described, forming a structure producing the effect of a triangle.

The sound box 19 comprises a flat sounding board 15,. which is preferably trapezoidal in shape with its larger at the top of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 1. The back 16 of the sound box is oval-shaped, and is suitably joined to the sounding board 15., molding 17 being preferably provided around the edges of the sounding board. The sound box is provided with a top 18', and a bottom 19 to which the sounding board 15 and back 16' are secured. A cap 20 is preferably arranged on top of the sound box and is secured to the upper face of the top 18. A shoe 21 is provided at the bottom of the sound box and is ew, taken on line secured tothebottom 19 thereof. This shoeforms a: basev for. the. instrument and is.pref erably provided with tapered, sides. for en-- gagement with and support by a. suitable. standard. This' shoe" is relatively thick, and, therefore, aids in producing a rich, full tone, by carrying the vibrations downwardly. The top 18 and cap 20 are of substantially the same contour as the top: of the; sound box, as

shownby the cross sectional view of Fig. 4. e0.

hebottoni l9- and shoe 21' are of substantiall the same contour as the bottom o-fthe. sound? box, as shown by the sectional view of Fig. 31,.

The. back 16- is provided in its central portion with twosound openings 25 and 26 which 65.

are preferably of general trapezoidal contour having their wider dimensions at the top, as shown. in Fig... 2', which adds materially tov the; tone value of the instrument. The. sounding;

board 15.- is stiffened and reinforced by a vertically arranged cleat 2.7 which is secured to the inside face thereof and extends for substantially the entire length of the board. At each side of this clcat and at. substantially a.

point midway of. the cleat and the outer edges 7 of the board is arranged an oblique cleat, 28 which is preferably tapered at each end and having its upper end extending outwardly away from the central cleat. Extending preferably at right angles to: these cleatsare auxiliary cleats 29 which have one: end abutting the oblique cleat 2-8 and the other end pointing inwardly toward the central cleat. Near the lower portion of the sounding board there are provided two: cleats 30 which are 35 obliquely arranged and have their upper ends extending inwardly toward the central clieat. These cleats are so spaced as to be located substantially centrally of the distance between the central cleat and the edge of the board and aid in softening the tone and also act as tone carriers tothe resonator irons 12 and 13. These cleats are shown largely in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The triangle of my device is formed in part irons.

40, respectively. The inner end of the iron 12 is embedded in the top of the sounding box and preferably disposed between the top 18 and cap 20, where it is suitably secured. In like manner, the inner end 36 of the iron 13 is disposed at the bottom of the sound box and is securely embedded by being disposed preferably between the bottom 19 and shoe 21. The irons are so disposed that they project outwardly away from the face of the sounding board and at angle thereto as clearly shown. The inner ends 35 and 36 of these irons extend inwardly sufficiently far so that some portion thereof is disposed at the center of the top 18 and bottom 19. In the central portion of the top 18 is formed an opening 45, and in the bottom 19 is also formed a centrally arranged opening 46. These openings extend clear through the top and bottom and.

expose a portion of the inner ends 35 and 36 of the side irons 12 and 13, respectively, whereby the vibrations set up within the sound box will be communicated to the triangleof the instrument through the resonator The outer ends 37 and 38 of the resonator irons 12 and 13, respectively, are interspaced and extend inwardly toward each other, and are secured to a triangularly' shaped block 47. This block is solid and forms the suspension and opening of "the triangle of the device, as well as forming. the support for the string carrying member 11 of the device. The outer ends 37 and 38 may be secured to the flat faces of the block, or the instrument may be made more ornamental by setting these ends down below the surface of the block, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, it .being necessary, however, that the edges of the ends are free and separated from the wood surrounding them, so as not to interfere with the vibrations set up within the triangle. The string carrying member 11 is so positioned that its axis is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sound box'and at an angle to the lateral axis of the sound box.

The other part of the triangle is formed by resonator rods 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 which correspond in number to the number of strings provided on the instrument and are preferably round in cross-section. Rods 50, 51, and 52 correspond to the bass strings, and rods 53, 54, and 55 correspond to the treble strings. -All of these rods have their ends extending inwardly and are securely fastened to the top 18 and bottom 19 by being embedded or let in between the top 18 and cap 20 and between the bottom 19 and shoe 21. All of the rods have their vertical portions interspaced from the back 16 of the sound box 10. The inwardly projecting ends of the treble rods 53, 54, and 55 are not only embedded in the end of the sound box, but are securely fastened to the inwardly extending ends 35 and 36 of the resonator irons 12 and 13, respectively. As'shown in Fig. 6,

they do,less vibration, are not oined to the resonator irons. From the foregoing it will be clearly seen that the resonator 1IOI1S 12 and 13, together with the resonator rods 50. 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 form the triangle part of my instrument.

As hereinbefore stated, the string carrying member 11 is preferably like the standard neck of a guitar, and has the finger-board formed on the face thereof, as is customary. Secured to the central portion of the sounding board 15 is the bridge 61 of my instrument. This bridge is preferably made of soft wood having a piece of ebony or ivory 62, extending across the edge which faces the neck to act as a rest for the strings 63, of which there are preferably six in number. Pegs 64 of the type ordinarily used in a guitar or harp enter the bridge and serve to hold the ends of the strings 63 in place in a manner similar to that of a harp.

The instrument is played on the same principal as a harp, i. e., by picking the strings, and is suitable for orchestral, concert or home use. Obviously, it may be made in any suitable size. lVhen the strings are played, the harp-shaped sound box 10 which is arranged at a proper angle, with the proper distance existing between the bridge 61 and the solid wooden block 47, produces the harp tone of the instrument. The instrument is played with great ease.

Obviously, some modifications of the details herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, the form shown being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i i

1. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box having a sounding board, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, strings carried by the member and having their inner ends attached to the sounding board, said string carrying member having its axis arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal of the sound box and at an angle to the lateral axis of the sound box, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with the sound box.

2. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, resonator members one end of each. of? which being secured to opposite ends offtlie'soundibox, a block'r in interspaced relation Witlt thesound box, the: opposite end's of the resonator members being secured to and supported by the block, and a string carrying member secured to the block.

3. A stringed musical instrument comprising'a sound box, a; string carrying member ininterspaced relation with. the sound box, resonator irons connecting the string carrying'memberrwit'h each end of the sound box, and resonator rods connecting the opposite ends of the sound box; 1

4. A- stringed musical? instrument comprising a sound box, a stringcarrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, resonator irons connecting the string carrying member witheach end of the sound box and having'their outer-ends interspaced, and resonator rodsconnecting the opposite ends of the sound box, a' number of'said resonator rods'havi-ng their opposite endscontacting with the resonator irons.

5. -A- stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a block in interspaced reliatioir with the sound box, resonator members connecting the block with the-sound box, the outer ends of themcmberswhich are secured to the block being interspaced, resonator rods connecting opposite ends of the box, a number of said rods having their opposite ends connected to the resonator members, and a string carrying member secured to the block.

6. A stringed musical instrument compris ing a sound box, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, and two oppositely arranged resonator members connected at opposite sides of only of the string carrying member and having their opposite ends connected one to each end of the sound box, said resonator members having their inner ends embedded in the ends of the sound box.

7. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with the sound box, said resonator members having their inner ends embedded in the ends of t 1e sound box, the ends of the box being each formed with an opening opposite the inner end of the resonator members, whereby the vibrations produced within the box will be communicated to the resonator members.

8. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, resonator irons connecting the string carrying member with each end of the sound box, said.v resonator irons having their inner ends embedded in the ends of the sound box, resonator rods arranged in interspaced relation with the sound box and having their ends embedded in opposite ends of the box, the

endsof the box being'each formed with. an opening opposite the inner end of the resonat'or irons, whereby the vibrations produced within the box will be communicated to the arrangedat an angle with thelateral axis of the sounding-board, abridge carried by the sounding-board, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with each end of the sound box.

10. A stringed musical instrument com.-

prising a sound box of general tapered formation and formed with a curved back and flat sounding-board secured to the baclnthe top of the box being larger than the bottom H thereof, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, and re sonator members connecting the stringed carrying member wi h the sound box.

1 1-. A stringed musical instrument comprisinga sound box of general tapered forma: tion and formed with a curved back and: flat sounding-board secured to the back, the top of the box being-larger than: the bottom thereof, the back of the sound box beingnformcd with two sound. openings, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with the sound box..

12. A stringed musical instrument com. prising a sound box of general tapered formation and formed with a curved back and flat sounding-board secured to the back, the top of the box being larger than: the bottom thereof, a centrally arranged cleat extending substantially the full length of the-sounding-board and secured to the inner face thereof, and a plurality of short, narrow cleats its also secured to: the inside surface of the sound- I ing-board and arranged in interspaced relation to the centrally arranged cleat and having their axes arranged at angles with the axis of the central cleat, a string carrying member in intersuaced relation with. the sound box, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with the sound box.

13'. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box of general tapered formation and formed with a curved back and flat sounding-board secured to the back, the top of the box being larger than the bottom thereof, a centrally arranged clea-t extending substantially the full length of the soundingboard and secured to the inner face thereof, a pair of anguiarly arranged cleats secured near each end of the sounding-board, each pair having its members in interspaced'relation with each other and with the central cleat, the axes of the members: of each pair of cleats converging inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the sounding-board, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with the sound box. 7

let. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, resonator irons connecting the string carrying member with each end of the sound box, resonator rods connecting the opposite ends of the sound box, a solid shoe arranged at the bottom or" the box and fastened over the ends of the resonator members at the bottom of the box, and a cap arranged at the top of the box and fastened over the ends of the resonator members at the top of the box.

15. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a string carrying memher in interspaced relation with the sound box and having its axis arranged at an angle with the lateral axis of the sounding-board, a bridge carried by the sounding-board, comprising a wooden body, a strip of relatively hard material arranged along one of the longitudinal edges of the'body, and resonator members connecting the string carrying member with each end of the sound box.

16. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a string carrying member in interspaced relation withithe sound box, two oppositely arranged resonator irons carried at opposite sides of one end only of the string carrying member and having their opposite ends connected one to, each end of the sound box, and resonator rods connecting the opposite ends of the sound box.

17. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a block in interspaced relation with thesound box, resonator members connecting the block with the sound box, the outer ends of the members which are secured to the block being interspac'ed, reso- 'nator rods connecting opposite ends of the box, a number of said rods corresponding to the number of treble strings of the instrument being connected to the inner ends of the resonatorrirons, and a string carrying member secured to the block.

18. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, two oppositely arranged resonator irons, one end of each'of which being secured to opposite ends of the sound box, resonator rods carried by the sound box, a number of the rods being connected to the ends of the resonator irons, the opposite ends of the resonator irons being interspaced, whereby an open triangle construction is formed. 7

19; A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, two oppositely arranged resonator irons, one endof each of which being secured to opposite ends of the sound 7 box, resonator rods carried by the sound box,

a number of the rods being connected to the ends of the resonator irons, a block in interspaced relation with the sound box, the 0pposite ends of the resonator irons being secured to the block in interspaced relation with each other, whereby an open triangle construction is formed.

20. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, a string carrying member in interspaced relation with the sound box, resonator irons connecting the strin carrying member with each end of the soun box, and resonator rods connecting the opposite ends of the sound box and equal in number to the number of strings carried by the instrument.

21. A stringed musical instrument comprising a sound box, resonator members one end of each of which being secured to opposite ends of the sound box, a solid block in interspaced relation with the sound box, the opposite ends of the resonator members being secured to and supported by the block, and a string carrying member secured to the block.

7 In testimony whereof, I have signed my name.

PETER E. BLONDIN.

hereunto 

